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Hasbro’s FunLab Seeks Prototype Toy Testers

Your child could inspire the next great Hasbro product.

If you have a family with children, and you are visiting or live in the vicinity of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Hasbro’s “FunLab” is a diversion you might want to consider adding to your schedule. FunLab is located at Hasbro’s Corporate Headquarters, and is described as “Hasbro’s Toy and Gaming Testing Program.” It’s open to families with children of any age, and it just might be the most awesome “focus group” in the world.

Essentially, FunLab is where kids are put together with Hasbro’s play experts to test out new toy and game concepts. Parents sign non-disclosure agreements and kids are given toys to try out and interact with. There’s some structure to the sessions, but the basic idea is that Hasbro is just trying to find out if a toy is fun to play with, and to see what kind of play patterns might emerge from these sessions. It’s all very hush-hush, since the toys being handled are usually prototypes being considered for production for in anywhere from 1 to 3 years (if they are produced, at all).

FunLab Details

Hasbro’s official description of the FunLab is as follows:

“Hasbro’s Global FunLabs bring consumers from around the world and Hasbro teams together for hands-on play experiences that enable us to identify opportunities for growth and product development. The goal of FunLab is to ensure that Hasbro provides children and families with products and experiences that are engaging, entertaining and fun. Global insights gained from participants help to enlighten and inspire our teams as they develop product designs, marketing and entertainment experiences.”

And if having your kids invited to play with new concepts from toy lines like Transformers, My Little Pony, Monopoly, Play-Doh, Nerf, G.I. Joe, etc., isn’t cool enough, as an added bonus, the child will also receive a special gift at the end as a “thank you” from Hasbro for having participated in the roughly 45 minute session. Perhaps the only downside to the program is that it’s specifically meant for families with children—sorry, adult Nerfers, this one is for the kids.

If you’re interested in participating with your family, you must enroll ahead of time to participate: funlab@hasbro.com. The sessions are held at their corporate office in Rhode Island, and are an awesome way to have fun with your family while contributing to the future of Hasbro toy development!